Cbs Heating Up Search For Rather's Successor

June 17, 1999|By Knight-Ridder/Tribune.

Nothing official yet but it appears that planning for a successor to Dan Rather at CBS may have begun.

John Roberts and Scott Pelley, considered inside candidates to replace the 67-year-old Rather when he decides to leave "CBS Evening News," are expected to take on higher-profile assignments by summer's end.

Roberts, 42, a frequent Rather sub and anchor of Sunday's "Evening News," will succeed Pelley, 41, as chief White House correspondent, according to CBS insiders. Pelley will join "60 Minutes II" as its fifth correspondent, they say.

The Canadian Roberts joined CBS in 1992 as co-anchor of "CBS Morning News." He does extensive breaking news coverage as well as medical and health reports. Pelley joined CBS in 1989 as a New York-based reporter. After seven years as a Dallas correspondent, he went to the White House.